Palm Branch Inspired Art Panels

If you guys take anything away from my blog posts each week, I hope it’s that YOU CAN GLEEN INSPIRATION FROM ANYWHERRRRE! When I post a project… even if it’s not your style, skill-level, or you don’t have the tools, I hope at least it gets your creative wheels turning and you start having ideas and noticing things in your everyday life that that trigger project ideas, little crafts, furniture transformations… ETC!

For me, part of the fun of composing a blog post is sharing how I came up with an idea or what inspired me. There’s always a story… and that makes if fun! Right? RIGHT?

The other day I was scrolling through my Instagram feed during nap time, and I saw this photo:

source: aww.sam on Instagram

It’s kinda hard to see, but I completely fell in love with those palm branch cut out panels on the left and right sides of the pic. Do you see them? They’re like a pale mint color?

So after doing some digging (because why not?!) I found that it’s a super fun Palm Beach hotel called The Saguaro with a mid-century vibe. I pretty much want to stay in this hotel asap.

But anyway!

I’ve been wanting to come up with some tall/narrow art pieces to flank the vintage schoolhouse world map that hangs over our credenza currently. And this seemed soooo so so so perfect. Even though we live in Iowa which is about as far as you can possibly get away from the nearest palm tree. Lol?

Per my usual strategy, I printed my inspiration pic and traced the design onto a transparency.

Then, using my old school overhead projector (more projector projects here), I projected my image onto two slabs of plywood that I had cut to size (in this case 4’ x 1.5), and traced with a pencil.

I wanted a border of sorts where I set a boundary for my wild jigging… heh! So I traced the perimeter using the width of a yardstick.

At this point, I could see a yearning in Nick’s eyes. It was like my board was just calling to him to air-guitar.

Let’s move past this now, shall we?

Next, I drew an ‘X’ on all the parts of the boards that need to be cut OUT, so I wouldn’t get confused later, and jig-happy. Then I drilled holes on all the X’s using a drill bit large enough to fit my jigsaw blade in.

Then, using my Ryobi jigsaw, I started jigging out each piece! I just worked on this here and there when I was in the garage with Nick. In all, it probably took me about 3 hours to cut both panels.

It took me awhile to find just the right speed, so some of my cutouts had some fraying edges (this is also because it’s super cheap 1/2” plywood)… but I just hit ‘em with sandpaper and they smoothed out real easy-like.

There were a couple small places where the wood split out a bit, so I filled those with wood putty. Once dry, I took an orbital sander to the face of each panel to smooth everything out and get rid of that ‘fuzzy’ plywood feel.

Then paint! I just used a small roller and this perfect charcoal color and rolled it on… being careful not to press too hard because I didn’t want paint to seep down into the cutouts. I just wanted the surface to be painted.

Nick popped on some comb hooks for me, and I tossed ‘em up on the wall… lickety-split!

I love the texture that it adds to this space, and that offer some contrast to an otherwise light-colored space. The vintage schoolhouse map we found at an estate auction, and the fabric scrap bunting I made with leftover fabric from Cypress’ Quilt that many of you sent fabric for. Do you spot your fabric up there?

I love this space in our dining room, and the way that the charcoal coordinates with the curtains. This room is really starting to feel pulled together!

Be sure to check out all the Wall Art posts I’ve done to reeeally get your creative juices flowing!

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About Bethany Sy

Bethany Sy is the creative free-spirit behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. She and her husband have been making their 117-year-old homestead their own, and love sharing tips and tutorials along the way. When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it.

Yeah, you definitely need a multimedia projector. It would eliminate the need to make a transparency. You get the pic on your laptop, it projects on a wall (or a piece of wood, a dresser, fabric, etc.) and you trace it!Ain’t nobody got time for alla dat cuttin’! ?

The Disqus works! (Thank you for getting back to me, Beth). At any rate, getting a jigsaw is sort of the natural next step for those who work with wood and paint. Not sure if my husband would trust me since I am naturally a klutz but my insurance is paid up! Would love to win this baby!

I have always wanted to cut our silhouettes of my family and paint them black and then mount them to a 16×16 stained piece of wood for my gallerywall, I think it would look amazing. I absolutely love your projects❤️

This would be a gift for the hubby, he’s the woodworker in the family. I have so many screenshots saved on my phone that I’ve saved for inspiration, glad I’m not the only one who gets inspired by Instagram. 🙂

Hello guys, I just love all your idea’s, they inspire me so much. The problem is I’m starting to run out of space, so guess what my huby is doing for me??? Building me my very own studio YEA! So now I could get really organized (that’s scary lol) I can’t wait, I can now show all my work an art , most of all the beautiful furniture I have done! Oh and a new ‘tool’ would be soooo used. hint! Thanks for all your sharing. And your giveaway opertunity.

Wow love the palm leaves and the jigsaw. I’m also on the look out for a projector. I’m no good at drawing so it sure would be great to fine a used one. I’ve been looking around at thrift stores and everywhere I see older stuff for sale. Wish me luck on finding one lol. Thanks for the chance to win the saw. Have a blessed day.

My orbital just went kaput and by kaput, I mean overheated and smoked up my kitchen, while using it to prep my cabinets for paint. Oh and while palms aren’t my fav, love LOVE these panels…oh and I’m getting ready to paint my very first backsplash…thanks for all your inspiration! And did I mention, I have my very own daughter, Paisley. She’s 15 and was convinced she was the only Paisley in the world! 🙂

No way!!! I had never heard the name Paisley before my girl, but I just read an article on ‘up and coming baby names’ the other day, and Paisley is the #1 fastest growing in popularity and expected to be the most popular baby name in the next few years. I could JUST CRY! Hopefully people won’t start naming their baby’s Cypress now. 🙂

Ahh! I could so use that jig saw! I am constantly borrowing my dads & while he loves me very much & lets me borrow it every time, I think deep down he is thinking “Why doesn’t she just buy one for herself already!”

You spy beauty in the most mundane things and somehow manage to turn the best parts into other things that are not only pretty, but also functional for you and your family. And you do it all while minding 3 sweet girls? I’m in awe of your creativity, talent, and stamina. Thanks for sharing your work! A joyful summer to you and the family.

Eeeeek. This is so exciting I was JUST researching renting a jigsaw for some projects I have in mind. . . .this would solve EVERYTHING and I would make ALL THE THINGS. We shall see. Oh also I love the palm guys.

*sigh…I LOVE these and have a perfect spot for them. I hope you’re happy…yet another “make it so” project for me to do!!! My husband and I were just talking about how much I NEED a jigsaw for the wood projects I want to work on. Well, I was telling him I need it…he just was in the garage working on something else. Dang, I hope I get this one!!

Ok this is gorgeous! I live in Florida so it would be pretty fitting in my house!! A jigsaw would help make this dream a reality, as well as many other ideas catalogued in my brain. Thanks for the opportunity and inspiration!!

While I am a senior, what I could do with the jig saw!! Just tried your staining a flower….lots of touch ups needed…I don’t think I’ll ever be as good as you but not bad for my first try! Maybe if I throw some Unicorn Spit stain on it???? Hmmmm

Wow how awesome would this to be win! I love crafting to my hearts content especially when you can get cheap qood pieces of wood at menards in their bargain bin section(thick board pcs under a $1!). Thanks for this drawing and your creative posts!

You are not going to believe this; I just called the school in town because they are doing an addition and knew they were getting rid of some old stuff. (Hubbie is retired teacher) Anyway, I asked if they had any old wall maps that they were getting rid of. THEY HAD DUMPED THEM ALL RIGHT BEFORE I CALLED AND THEY WERE GONE!!!! I was sooooo bummed!!! I wanted to frame them out as wall art in my basement. I now covet yours and anyone else that has them. Anyway, I love your Kilim Art that you did. I think the colors are just beautiful and the shapes as so interesting; not boring!!! The jigsaw that I am currently using is my father’s who probably got it in the 60’s. So you know, we both could use a new one to share!

My husband and I just bought our first home last week, and it has a garage! *squee!* We’re both dying to start adding some tools to our arsenal to bring all the projects we have in our heads to life and the jigsaw would be a perfect addition! I love both your and Nick’s blog, they’re so inspiring! I’m really enjoying Nick’s series on joints, I’m a total newbie to woodworking whereas my hubby has some experience, so I’m trying to educate myself on the sly so I can impress him with my knowledge of rabbets and dovetails 🙂

They look great on your wall! Very cool. Why did you choose to not paint the sides, to create more depth? I would have defaulted to painting the whole thing without thinking about it – curious about your thought process!

Those look great! I have a big blank wall in my dining room and something like this would be perfect! I am getting married in a few months and a new jigsaw is on the registry – would love to win this one!

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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer's operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.